Vegetable pest and disease

Hendry County Extension PO Box 68 LaBelle, Florida 33975-0068 Phone [phone]

SOUTH FLORIDA

VEGETABLE PEST AND DISEASE

HOTLINE

March 14, 2011

Temperatures across South Florida rebounded to above normal for most of February and early March favoring the growth and recovery of crops affected by this winter’s freezes. High winds over the past week to 10 days have battered crops tattering foliage, scarring fruit, knocking off blooms and sand blasting young plants.
Daytime highs have been in the mostly 70’s and 80’s with a number of days reaching into the mid 80’s, nighttime lows have ranged between the upper 40’s, and low 60’s. A cold front that moved through the area this past weekend dropped temperatures into the mid 40’s with some normally colder areas reporting lows in the mid 30’s. Light patchy frost was reported in Glades and Hendry Counties and interior locations to the north.
Despite a few showers over the past few weeks, most of South Florida remains in the grip of a severe.

FAWN Weather Summary

Date	Air Temp °F		Rainfall	Ave Relative Humidity	ET (Inches/Day)
	Min	Max	(Inches)	(Percent)	(Average)
Balm
2/14 – 3/14/11	34.76	85.21	1.58	74	0.1
Belle Glade
2/14 – 3/14/11	43.51	86.47	1.26	79	0.11
Clewiston
2/14 – 3/14/11	40.93	88.03	1.26	78	0.11
Ft Lauderdale
2/14 – 3/14/11	49.19	88.02	0.55	73	0.11
Fort Pierce
2/14 – 3/14/11	37.45	86.59	1.41	77	0.1
Homestead
2/14 – 3/14/11	43.82	87.73	0.67	78	0.11
Immokalee
2/14 – 3/14/11	36.37	87.57	0.97	76	0.11

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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE, FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, SEA GRANT AND 4-H YOUTH, STATE OF FLORIDA, IFAS, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COOPERATING

drought with the South Florida Water Management District reporting the driest October-to-February period since District recordkeeping began 80 years ago.
All areas received significant precipitation for the period ranging from just over a half inch in Fort Lauderdale to a little better than an inch and a half in Balm. Foggy mornings have kept diseases active in a number of areas although mostly drier conditions over the past week or so have helped to reduce pressure.
Volumes remain low but growers report that they are beginning to work through crops damaged by this winter’s cold weather and volumes and quality are increasing weekly. Light supplies of snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, celery, sweet corn, endive, escarole, bell peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes, and strawberries and specialty vegetables are moving to market. Prices have been strong on most items.
The short-term forecast from the National Weather Service in Miami indicates that mild weather will prevail across south Florida through week’s end as high pressure dominates the area. Weather will be clear and sunny with daytime temps in the low 80’s and night temps in the low to mid 50’s.
For additional information, visit the National Weather Service in Miami website at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/index.html